The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-07-29
WARNING TO FARMERS.
The Latest Dodge Devised for the Rurposs
of Swindlfng Agrfcufturfsts.


The Latest Dodge Devised for the aurposs
of Swindlfng Agrfcuiturists.
The confidence man who lies In wall
for the unsuspecting farmer il versa
tile being who does not confine him.
self to traffic in lightning rods or Bo-
hemian oats, but resorts TO other
methods when conditions seem favora-
bic. A pair of these plausible rascals
have lately been endeavoring to prac-
tice their profession in Wayne County,
Ind In the course of their peregrina-~
tons, one in the guise Of a wealthy
citizen from Virginia called upon Mr.
Isaac Doddridge, weIl-known and
we1l-to-do farmer of that county, and
represented himself as desirous OF
purchasing stock farm for his SON
He wanted a large farm, would not be
a stickler as to price, would pay cash.
and was favorably impressed with the
land which MIR. Doddrdge owned.
After some chaffering an engagement
was made to look over the ground on the
following day, and at the hour appointed
the wealthy stranger was on hand
with horse and wagon. He proposed
that they go first to remote part OF
the land, and Mr.. DoGdridge, suspect
ing nothing wrong of 3 gentleman 50
affable and apparently prosperous,
readily consented. remembering later.
however. that the tract Ia question was
distant from the public highway and
from neighbors- As they were about
to turn into these fields q second
stranger, in light wagon, came driv-
ing up rapidly and hailed them. but
upon receiving Mr.. Doddridge's assur-
ance that he did not know the man,
| stranger No. l said that as he himself
never saw him before the business
| could not be important, and they would
drive on. On arrival at a retired spot,
| 1t was found that stranger No. had
| followed them He introduced HIM
self as an advertising agent of q South
ern lottery, and that he was not selling
| tickets, but merely wished TO secure
/ the names of two or three responsible
men in each county, who would be al
lowed to draw large prizes simply ON
the fact that they publish the fact in
| the papers. Then. with charts and
| papers, he undertook to show the fair.
method in which the lottery was
operated, and the impossibility of
fraud in its workings Stranger No
become deeply interested in the
scheme, and when it was presently
| proposed that they try their luck then
and there, readily agreed, and on the
| first trial drew $. which he was al
| lowed to keep on condition that he
| would show an equal amount Mr..
| Doddridge, having been reader of the
| papers to some purpose. had before
| this time realized the situation, but be-
heving silence to be the part of discre-
| ton. offered no objection when urged
to try his chances and laid down $5,
taking pains at the same time 10 show
that this, with a little change. was all
the money in his pocket-book. The
| first stranger then drew IS 500, and on
exhibiting some $1,000 or s., 900 of his
own, received the prize Mr. Dod-
bridge then drew 3 500. also, but upon
his assurance that he had not an equal
sum npon his person to show,
disappointment was visible in the
faces of both strangers He was urged
to give a check. but protested that he
had no blanks. 1t was then arranged
that he drive to Richmond With the
wealthy Virginian, draw the money
and return TO the place where they then
were, the second stranger to remain in
waiting. Up to this time Mr.. Dod-
bridge had expressed no doubts, but
his silence and hesitation had probably
| aroused his companions suspiciens,
as before arriving at village in the
vicinity, and at which place MIR. Dod-
bridge hoped to secure the arrest OF
the rascal with him, this ..man of
wealth. suddenly decided to go nc
further, said he believed the thing was
a fraud, and that he would go back
| and return the cash he had drawn and
have no more to do with the matter.
Mr.. Doddrige willingly assented. was
set down at his own door. and now
congratulates himself that his lack of
ready money at critical time saved
him from assault and perhaps saved
his life The rascals on this occasion
made mistake IN selecting their VIC
tim, as it is not part of their scheme
to waste time on men who read the
newspapers and are posted as to the
ways that are dark of the confidence
gentry. In these days when gas booms
are ION" and the rural citizen, as we'll
as the dweller in the city, is excited
by hopes of future wealth, and even
by the sudden accumulation of moder-
ate riches, the scoundrel who seeks
what he may devour in the way of un-
sophisticated grangers is abroad in the
land in a variety of disguises. In the
shape of a wealthy stranger who wants
to buy every thing in sight for cash,
he is, perhaps, more irresistible than
, in any other form, and it is of the
, wealthy stranger. therefore, with whom
: a few thousand dollars more or less Is
of little account. that the careful
| Hoosier should beware, The 4.msn
, from Virginia" who wants to bay 3
, farm should be asked to give his ref
erenees or be properly introduced
Indianapolis journal.
the results OF day at Monte Carlo
to the proprietors of the Casino and to
the Principality of Monaco are testified
In the boxes, weighted with gold. car
, | riad away before the very eyes of the
] lysers. 1t is said that each table wins
from f1 800 to e., 600 a day, which